Armed men kill 7 civilians in southeast Mali

Seven civilians were killed on Saturday by unknown armed men riding on a motorcycle, in Mali's southeast region near the border with Burkina Faso, local population told Xinhua on Sunday.

According to eyewitnesses who spoke to Xinhua on phone, the attack happened during celebrations to mark the Islamic religious festival of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Armed men on a motorcycle, the eyewitnesses said, suddenly started shooting at civilians who included traders in Kobou and Niagassadiouat markets in Mopti region at around 4:00 p.m. local time.

The government has not issued an official statement over the incident for which no group has claimed responsibility.